I've previously blogged about my preference for being called Dr. Reaction by students. At TempCollege, my colleagues always referred to me as "Dr" in front of students. I automatically returned the favor without even thinking about it. Student in a conversation with Coworker #1 and myself? "So, Undergrad, as Dr. #1 and I were just saying...." Student proceeds down the hall? "So, Coworker, where were we?"
Here at PermaU, I am frequently referred to by new coworkers by my first name in front of students. It is starting to bother me because 1. I might have some of these summer students in the fall and 2. it isn't what I am used to. (And you all know how much I love change).
Of course, you should also bear in mind that:
- I am (by nature) a very tightly-wound, uptight person
- I have gotten so accustomed to being referred to by title and last name that I barely respond to my first name
- It *is* the summer, so I think things by nature are more relaxed
- I have no idea if this is the norm or not
But it has gotten me thinking: while I of course expect students to refer to me by Dr., does it really matter if I am talked about in conversations with them by my first name? While it is the way I was "academically raised," do students even notice?
